Computer graphics in context: an approach to a first course in computer graphics

A context for a computer science course is defined to be a field outside computer science in which the technical course context can be used. We use the term "context" because it gives us a way to see how the computer science content and the application area relate to each other. And we say that the course is taught in context is this other field is used throughout the course for motivation, examples, and projects. We consider the idea of developing a computer graphics course in a context and discuss how that context can be used to engage students in the subject, to learn how to express ideas in the subject through computer graphics, and to build a sense of community within a class. This kind of engagement, expression, and community building are well known to make a subject more attractive as well as to broaden and deepen learning.